Comparative genome sequencing of Escherichia coli allows observation of bacterial evolution on a laboratory timescale

• Published in: Nature genetics Vol. 38; no. 12; pp. 1406 - 1412
• Main Authors: Palsson, Bernhard Ø, Herring, Christopher D, Raghunathan, Anu, Honisch, Christiane, Patel, Trina, Applebee, M Kenyon, Joyce, Andrew R, Albert, Thomas J, Blattner, Frederick R, van den Boom, Dirk, Cantor, Charles R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 01.12.2006
• Subjects: Adaptation, Physiological; Bacteria; Biological and medical sciences; Culture Media; Directed Molecular Evolution; DNA sequencing; E coli; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Escherichia coli - physiology; Evolution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic aspects; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Genome, Bacterial; Genomics; Genotype; Glycerol - metabolism; Methods; Molecular evolution; Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; Mutation; Nucleotide sequencing; Physiological aspects; Real time; Selection, Genetic; Time Factors; United States; Infection; Molecular evolution; Escherichia coli; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Genome; Sequencing; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 1061-4036; 1546-1718
• DOI: 10.1038/ng1906

We applied whole-genome resequencing of Escherichia coli to monitor the acquisition and fixation of mutations that conveyed a selective growth advantage during adaptation to a glycerol-based growth medium. We identified 13 different de novo mutations in five different E. coli strains and monitored their fixation over a 44-d period of adaptation. We obtained proof that the observed spontaneous mutations were responsible for improved fitness by creating single, double and triple site-directed mutants that had growth rates matching those of the evolved strains. The success of this new genome-scale approach indicates that real-time evolution studies will now be practical in a wide variety of contexts.